West Point girls claw Lady Tigers 68-55

February 9, 2011

By Bryan Davis
Sports Editor
Tuesday night was the first round of the district tournament for the West Point Lady Green Wave basketball team, and that meant one thing. The winner would advance to the championship game, and the loser would go home for good.
Facing the Saltillo Tigers for the third time this season, the Lady Wave had few problems with the Lady Tigers, running up an early lead, and eventually taking the game 68-55.
â€śWe got a big lead, but then we got a little tired and let that lead slip a little bit,â€ť West Point head coach Jemmye Ann Helms said after the game. â€śWe canâ€™t do that against Oxford, or you wonâ€™t be in the game, because theyâ€™ve got some players who can hurt you quick.â€ť
That Oxford team Helms was referring to is the only club that has beaten the Lady Wave this season, and the Lady Chargers have done it twice.
As for Tuesday nightâ€™s game, it started out with a solid performance by the Lady Waveâ€™s offense, who put up 23 points. Kelsei Ewings and Wilma Davis led the way in scoring, while the defense held the Lady Tigers to 16 points.
In the second quarter, West Pointâ€™s defense had its best frame of the night, holding Saltilloâ€™s girls to just seven points over the next eight minutes. West Pointâ€™s 15 points on offense gave the home team a 38-23 lead going into the half.
In the second half, the Lady Wave offense slowed down a bit, scoring just a dozen points in the third quarter. The defense remained sound, giving up just 11 to Saltillo.
The Lady Tigers required a tremendous fourth quarter on defense and offense. They would get a good performance out of the offense, scoring 21, but the defense gave up 18 to West Point, which was plenty to seal the win.
Ewings scored 23 points on the night for West Point, while Davis netted 20 of her own. Nekeisha Walker scored a dozen points, and Taylor McCrary scored three.
West Point will once again host the Lady Chargers of Oxford, tomorrow night, starting at 6 p.m.
â€śOur kids are excited, and weâ€™re excited,â€ť Helms said. â€śWe played a lot better the second time we played them up there. If we play hard and are physical, I think weâ€™ll win.â€ť